Microalgae as Functional Feed in Fish Larval Rearing: Nutritional Value, Ecological Functions, and Future Prospects for Sustainable Aquaculture
Keywords:
Microalgae, Phytoplankton, Sustainable Aquaculture, Health benefit, Aquafeed, Fish Larvae NutritionAbstract
As global fish stocks decline and aquaculture expansion intensifies, sustainable larval rearing remains a critical challenge due to the high dependency on live feed such as rotifers and Artemia. Microalgae, as the foundational feed component, play a pivotal role in supporting larval nutrition, health, and water stability. While numerous reviews have discussed microalgae as nutritional supplements or live feed, few have comprehensively analyzed their multifunctional role as both nutritional and ecological components within larval rearing systems. This review uniquely integrates current understanding on microalgae’s biochemical composition, functional bioactivity, and ecosystem-level interactions that enhance larval survival, immunity, and water quality. It emphasizes the dual role of microalgae in nutrition and bioremediation, presenting an updated synthesis of species-specific applications and their suitability based on biochemical and physiological traits. Additionally, this review identifies emerging technological and bioprocessing innovations such as strain improvement, cell-wall modification, and integration with biofloc and circular bioeconomy systems that address limitations of cost, digestibility, and biochemical variability. By bridging nutritional, physiological, and environmental perspectives, this paper offers a holistic and practice-oriented framework for using microalgae as functional feed to enhance larval growth, health, and rearing sustainability in aquaculture.
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